RTN144S is a Dennis F123 Magirus 100' Turntable Ladder
appliance. It served with Tyne and Wear Metropolitan Fire Brigade from new until
it was withdrawn from service in 1993. Stationed at Brigade Headquarters with
call sign D3 (Pilgrim Street) it has been to many 20+ pump fires.

This type of Dennis is more commonly known as a Dennis Delta
which refers to the special low line chassis which enables the ladder to
be located as low as possible. The Perkins V8 engine is located well behind
the front axle so that the area around the driver's and officer's seats is
very open.

The ladder is a Magirus DL30 which was the first introduction
of a ladder with 2 man cage into the United Kingdom. The ladder is fully
controlled by electrically operated solenoid hydraulic valves. This enables
the man in the cage to control all ladder movements by a small control
panel. In addition a further remote control panel on the end of a 50 metre
cable can be plugged into the base of the ladder so that operations
can be controlled from the ground at a safe working distance or from a better
view point if the appliance is operating as a water tower.

Turntable ladders are very capable machines with a wide
variety of uses. In the picture above we see RTN144S launching 'Tinea' one
of the Tyne and Wear FB fire boats at Spillers Quay which is down from the
Tyne Bridge. The boat was taken from station Foxtrot to the quay side by
trailer and then lifted into the water by using the TL as a crane. Such exercises
seem to be a favourite occupation of this station during the summer
months.......